The Tangible Perception Lab - TangiLab

The Tangible Perception lab research interests relate to haptics and multisensory perception. The main questions that we ask ourselves are how human tactile sensitivity works and how it integrates with other senses to shape subjective feelings and decisions. 

Knowledge has started emerging on haptic rendering and multisensory perception of tangible interactions but little is still known about the mechanisms underlying perceptual integration of physically distinct tactile cues such as friction, temperature, or vibrations among them. Inputs from the other senses also participate at shaping the objects’ feeling. In this context, there is the intricate challenge of developing new haptic techniques to study tactile dimensions and models of multisensory perception. In our lab, we aim to address the problem of multisensory perception of tangible objects from a holistic view by considering simultaneously multi-dimensional haptic techniques, tactile acuity across its psychophysical dimensions, and computational modelling of the processes. We also consider population factors such as age and sensory impairment that can impact the mechanisms of sensory perception. We investigate these intriguing questions from several perspectives by using a variety of engineering and neuroscientific methods.

The outcomes of our research aim at better understanding and predicting the sensory impact achieved by multidimensional haptic feedback. By doing so, they pave the way to sensorily rich tangible 3D elements on digital screens and in virtual reality as well tas the development of new assistive tools for sensory impaired people.